Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;day tripper&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Day Tripper’ particularly characterized by flowers which are purple/violet with white and a purple labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Day Tripper’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Day Tripper’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Day Tripper’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Day Tripper’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2003 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Tinny Mist’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Tinny Honey’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Day Tripper’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2011 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in November, 2011 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Day Tripper’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers which are purple/violet with white and a purple labellum;

2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;

3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture;

4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and

5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Day Tripper’, the flowers of the female parent ‘Tinny Mist’ are about 9 cm in size and have more white than ‘Day Tripper’. The flowers of the male parent ‘Tinny Honey’ are about 9 cm in size and are pink with white at the edges whereas the flowers of ‘Day Tripper’ are 9 cm in size and purple/violet with white. Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Day Tripper’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘Country Girl’. ‘Country Girl’ has less white at the edges of the flower than ‘Day Tripper’. The flower and plant of ‘Country Girl’ are also larger in size than ‘Day Tripper’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Day Tripper’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Day Tripper’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Day Tripper’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Day Tripper’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Day Tripper’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Day Tripper’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Day Tripper’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Day Tripper’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Day Tripper’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Day Tripper’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Day Tripper’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Day Tripper’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Tinny Mist’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Tinny Honey’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190A); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 60 cm Spread: about 55 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Standard; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1-2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6-8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval; the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 20 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 6 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under             side: green (RHS 137C).         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS N137A) under side: yellow/green (RHS 146B). -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower. -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 8-14.         -   Length.—About 40 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—About 15 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—Green (RHS 137B).         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 25 mm Diameter (at             midpoint): about 25 mm Shape: oval with a bump Color:             Green/white (RHS 157C) with yellow/green (RHS 145B) and some             red/purple (RHS 70A) Orientation: same as flowers (forward             facing).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-2             racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers             can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a             plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2 Size (of single bloom): Height:             about 7 cm Diameter: about 90 mm Quantity and arrangement:             three petals and three sepals that are trimerous,             overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are more             pronounced than sepals.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2             lateral petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall             shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped Apex: oval with a             little notch Margin: entire and weakly undulate Base:             broadly ovate Length: about 55 mm Width: about 45 mm             Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface:             smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper side:             Main color is purple/violet (combination of RHS N81A and RHS             N81B) with at the base and on the edges white (RHS NN155D).             Under side: Main color is purple/violet (RHS N81B) with             purple/violet veins (RHS N81A). At the base and on the edges             white (RHS NN155D). Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2             prominent callosities at central junction of the lateral             lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum             fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends forward             and is terminated by 2 filiform appendages at the apex.             Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the             midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin:             entire and weakly undulate Apex of the midlobe and lateral             lobes: oval Length midlobe: about 23 mm Width midlobe (not             flattened): about 20 mm Length lateral lobe: about 18 mm             Width lateral lobe (not flattened): about 15 mm Depth of             tube created by lateral lobes of labellum: about 15 mm             Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny Color             (when fully opened): Mid lobe, upper side: Main color is             purple (RHS N79A) with a purple/violet haze (RHS N80A). At             the base and at the upper edges some yellow (RHS 12A). Under             side: Main color is purple/violet (RHS N80A). In the center,             from top till bottom, white (RHS NN155D). In the corners             some purple (RHS N79B). Lateral lobes, upper side: Main             color is purple/Violet (RHS N82A) with purple (RHS N79A) at             the lower edge. At the base some white (RHS NN155D with             yellow (RHS 10A) and purple stripes (RHS N79A). Under side:             Main color is purple/violet (RHS N82A) with some purple (RHS             76C). The upper edge at the base is white (RHS NN155B).             Under edge is purple (RHS N79B). Cirrhi: about 15 mm color:             purple (RHS 79A) with at the tip white (RHS NN155D) Pestle             (Callosities): Length: about 4 mm Width (not flattened):             about 7 mm Color: main color is yellow (RHS 11A) with purple             spots/stripes (RHS 79B).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one             dorsal and two lateral sepals Overall shape: elliptical and             weakly cupped Margin: entire and weakly undulate Length:             about 45 mm Width: about 30 mm Apex: oval; lateral sepal a             little pointy and dorsal has a little notch Texture: Upper             and under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully             opened): Upper side, dorsal: purple/violet (RHS N81B) with             purple/violet veins (RHS N81A) and white (RHS             NN155D).Lateral: Purple/ violet (RHS N81A with RHS N81B). At             the base and the edges white (RHS NN155D) with yellow/green             (RHS 145C). At the base some purple/violet spots (RHS N82A).             Under side, dorsal: Main color is white (RHS NN155D) with a             yellow/green haze (RHS 145D). At the upper edges some             purple/violet (RHS N81D) with purple/violet veins (RHS             N81A). Lateral: Main color is purple/violet (RHS N81D) with             purple/violet veins (RHS N81A). At the base some             yellow/green (RHS 145C) and some white (RHS NN155B).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 30 mm Diameter: about 3 mm Texture:             glabrous and smooth Color: starting at the flower             yellow/green (RHS 145D) which runs into yellow/green (RHS             145A) with a red/purple haze (RHS 70A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 10 mm Diameter: about 5 mm Color:             purple/violet (RHS N81A).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two Diameter: about 2 mm Color: orange             (RHS 26A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 4 mm Diameter: about 5 mm Color: white             (RHS NN155D). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Day Tripper’, as illustrated and described herein. 